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In this country, the lemon tree is mainly cultivated as a container plant. The growth of the lemon tree is sparse and horny shoots, also known as water shoots, often form. These must be removed as soon as they are discovered.

In a nutshell

  • Formation of water shoots from adventitious buds on old wood
  • are thin, long, growing steeply upwards
  • do not produce flowers or fruits
  • pull out water shoots in summer or spring
  • don't cut

Sprouts during growing season

Water shoots on the lemon tree (Citrus limon) always sprout during the growing season from dormant eyes, the so-called adventitious buds, on the old wood of horizontal branches. Such wild shoots can quickly overgrow the entire crown of the tree. The Geiltriebe or water shoots usually arise if the plant was cut back too much in the previous year. This stimulates growth more to compensate for the removed wood.

adventitious bud

A water instinct is not able to develop flowers or even fruit. It is basically useless to the lemon tree. On the contrary, the water shoots only rob the wood of nutrients, which are then no longer available for flowering and fruit formation. In addition, they prevent fruit that has already formed from lacking light for development. It is therefore important to identify and remove these shoots as quickly as possible.

recognize water drift

Horny shoots usually look different than normal shoots. Since a lemon tree is very often grafted on the basis of trifoliate or bitter orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings, a water shoot is easy to spot. features are

  • particularly fast growing
  • very long and thin
  • soft and initially hardly woody
  • standing straight up
  • other leaf shapes
  • Leaves much larger than noble lemon

Notice: In addition, wild shoots can also be formed directly on the trunk and in the root area. These then also grow steeply and vertically upwards.

Just tear off

Water shoots should always be removed quickly and thoroughly after they have been discovered. Horny shoots that have grown in summer can either be removed immediately or in the following spring. However, cutting the shoots is not advisable, because such water shoots can sprout again in a very short time from even the smallest remaining tissue remnants. Tearing out such shoots is more effective for cutting. Here all tissue, which is the basis for a new formation, is completely removed. The procedure is as follows:

  • suitable for young, non-lignified water shoots
  • Astring, dividing tissue and side eyes are also removed
  • this means that no new shoots are possible
  • Firmly grasp water shot at base with fingers
  • suddenly tear off vertically downwards

In this way, even wild shoots are pulled out at the base of the roots and on the trunk with a strong jerk

Notice: Cracked wounds are closed more quickly by the lemon tree than cut wounds.

Remove lignified water shoots

The situation is different when water shoots that have already become woody are removed if they were discovered too late. In contrast to removing young water shoots, cutting can be helpful here:

  • use a sharp knife to cut
  • Cut the wood and bark horizontally under the point where the shoot attaches
  • then pull the shoot down vertically with your hand

The incision under the shoot attachment prevents major injuries from occurring when tearing off. In other words, larger pieces of bark are also torn off.

Notice: Water shoots should not be removed in winter. The formation of new shoots is then stimulated.

frequently asked Questions

Should an educational pruning be carried out on the lemon tree?

Yes. A training cut can promote an even crown structure. To do this, the strongest central shoot is shortened by a third and attached to a stick. Only three to four strong side shoots are left on the tree and also shortened by a third. The pruning takes place here directly behind an outwardly protruding bud. All other side shoots are subsequently completely removed at the base. The right time for this is until February.

How should a maintenance cut be done in a lemon plant?

After a crown has already been built up, a maintenance cut should be carried out regularly. All dead, diseased, too close and crossing shoots are removed. This is done directly at the base, since simply shortened shoots can quickly branch out again. That should be done by the end of February. Furthermore, after the harvest, all branches that have borne fruit are cut back by half. This allows new fruit wood to form again.

Is a rejuvenation pruning also advisable for lemon trees?

As with other trees, old lemon trees can become bare. They usually only have a few leaves on the tips of the shoots. There is hardly any growth. In such cases, a rejuvenation cut should then be carried out in February. All thicker branches are cut back to 10 to 15 cm. Many new young shoots usually form at the interfaces. Of these, only the strongest should remain standing. Fruiting then occurs again the following year.

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Garden plants